DEFENCE COMMISSION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 133, 22 February 1918, Page 7

DEFENCE COMMISSION

— « : EVIDENCE. AS TO WASTEFUL EXPENDITURE CONDEMNATION OP PRESENT METHODS." By. Telegraph—Press Association. '..'..' Palmerston North, February 21. The Defence Expenditure' Commission, consisting of Sir.Robert Anderson (chairman), Messrs. Rhodes, and Peter Barr, sat in ,tho Courthouse to-day, when .the evidence of Colonel Hume and ILieutenaut-Colonel M'Donald was taken. Colonel Hume, Office- Commanding the Wellington military district, did not agree that authority to spend small amounts should he delegated to group commanders. Ho would -prefer to have the responsibility on his own shoulders. In many cases tho officers to whom he had to send reouisites were his junior in years and vault.' Sometimes he got so. sick of it that he did without things. For. months he had been trying to get some linoleum and hook shelves for His office; and it took him a long time to get some blinds. He had bought some articles at his own expense rather than argue about it. In many cases the time and material taken up in correspondence were more Valuable than the article asked for.

Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas William M'Donald, General Staff Officer, stated that he had been in the permanent'service for/nearly 20 years. He considered over-centralisation a great mistake. There were four military districts, and a camp should have been established in each. The centralisation of the camps at Featherston aud Trentham "would mean a loss of the amount of their cost, which might be £100.000 or £200,000, to the country when the war Was over, as they could not be used for 'trainingsof home forces, entailing .too great an expenditure in travelling expenses. This method did not make the .most use of the efficient officers in other districts.

The chairman: Are these officers not .fully occupied ?—Witness': They are finding work for themselves.- I ennjtendjthe present system is cumbersome to a degree. The Camp Commandant controls at Featherston 700-men, who are not divided' into battalions. He is supposed to investigate all matters and read all evidence in all cases before applying for courts-martial, etc., and he cannot possibly do so and carry out his work. .■..'.'.■ ','.,

Witness did'not consider Trentham a Suitable place for a camp. He then detailed a scheme for the reorganisation of the whole camp system.. "Wo have lost at least £100,000 through our canI teens by-letting .'them on contract ini Stead of running them ourselves. We 'are now saving- probably £25,000. an- ' nually in selling the goods cheaper than when under contract, and Smaking as much -profit as we got for the contract." Instances .-were given of the differences in allowance's.between officers of equal rank in camp and out of-camp. A lieutenani>c6l6nel in camp f !who'.was house free got,£6oo and allowances amounting to £191' 12s-. 6d.-A inan of similar rank on the staff-outside camp- got £600/ but .<bhly -£36-10s. allowances, and he had' ,to find, .his -, house-. ' An instance of -waste - money >:was the painting of all transports for I 'the Main Body/ as they linked up with ! -the -men from, Australia,' • where this ({wasteful policy had not. been carried 1 out. -At the-'end-of the journey many of. the.-.boats'had./'-tb- bo/restored; in colour before handing them hack to. the Shipping companies, all . considerable expense. ; 'In- this- district ithefe was. a shortage of arms :araount- ! ing to £5537-and.equipment amounting j ,to £2069. Taking the otherthree dis--itricta into account • \. there was ' probably £20,000 .' wth . of. these (goods " unaccounted. for, ,- since i.a.914."-' -No doflbt much h'ad'gonerttith rthe ; me.n orL'iactiye'.se'r.yice, .-but; there : was not a record of-how., much. . Lax .■supervision; and .-want-of. proper stock- ; taking would: accoiihtv for. .this. .-VMiich ."detailed evidence' Was given under this liead.. The position, of the'.Director, of Recruiting in "Wellington arid group commanders was often- conflicting. .An expensive, method-"of- telegraphing", was \ised'by"the"'Director .of Recruiting : .:'t6 \ notify recruits--drawn in.' tho.-ballot, ':-while memos., from'. the ■'group office ! would' answer the .purpose.-•;' The\Dr- :' reetor of Recruiting in. Wellington-:-now :.ij>ad a staff of 152, which" witness con'fcidered.'. unnecessary, .-being", largely ' .working in duplication nndoverlappiug. ■Reference' was also made to : discrepanciesv between soldiers' files...in the : recruiting office and .'the-group, office, -nnd-the'' eniployment-' of inspectors, to make., corrections. The "lack of coordination tli'roughout':.the. : fervic.o. and Ihe-overlapping of/departinents -was a subject requiring .'"great- -consideration, and in tli'e reconstruction of this-a.vast eaying could be made...::''-'rher9".wflS a great deal of-waste in--connection. with medical" boards.'" They -.consisted - of 'two.doctors, a military attesting, offi-

eer, a: sergeant-major, and tlireo clerks. They received salaries and travelling expenses. He considered the clerical staff could be dispensed with, and clerks from the group staff utilised for the purpose -in- this district. One of the three appeal boards could bo cut out altogether. ■ He considered Uie military 0 representative quite unnecessary, as the group officer had to supply him ..with all the information, ajid could therefore act as military representative when needed.. He understood the military, representative of ffie hoard, .which-was'-practically in residence, in. Wellington, ■ drew travelling expenses all the time.

The chairman: His would bis a coveted position. The question of horses for artillery training camps.next came under review. They were not allowed to buy horses, yet. it cost £12 per horse for hire for 30 days, when the horses' value were only £i) 10s. each. Ho favoured buying horses and selling them afterwards. The present system of military law and discipline was costly and ineffective. ' When a man becarno a soldier he had no fewer than 21 commanding officers. The method of bringing deserters from long distances for investigation was very expensive, involving- witnesses' expenses, also in every case. It was suggested by witness- that the Commission should inquire into the contracts made with officers imported from England. He questioned if the terms of their contract were being .carried out. Some who came out under engagement at a certain salary for a certain position had been removed to higher positions at higher salaries, and this was detrimental to colonial officers as well as to other imported officers.

The ohairman (smiling): Beneficial variations.

The witness: We have in New Zealand officers who are quite as capable of filling these positions.

The chairman: They have proved that bv their achievements abroad.

Witness (continuing): When I returned from England with the highest credentials, I was sent to Paeroa. My time was wasted there. Knowledge, experience, and backbone are the greatest bar to advancement I find. I havo had exceptional experience, but I find it ia' drawback. I have seen men put over my' head in staff departments without any knowledge of staff work. I could have saved this country a quarter of a million, but I don't get the chance.

; Finally, the witness dealt with the training of men. He considered the period "of training could be put down by a.month, three months being ample time." He also favoured the establishment of an officers' training school here,' like they had in England. The Court then adjourned and visited 'Awapuni Camp.